by rhiltonlaw | Aug 13, 2024 | Court System, Criminal
A plea bargain is a deal made between a defendant (or the defendant’s attorney) and a prosecutor where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or receive a lighter sentence. This process can significantly affect victims, making it important to...
by rhiltonlaw | Aug 13, 2024 | Court System, Criminal
Missing a court date might seem like a small mistake, but it can lead to massive problems. Whether it’s for a traffic ticket, a more serious criminal charge, or any other legal matter, showing up to court is important. Let’s talk about what happens if you...
by rhiltonlaw | Apr 3, 2023 | Court System, Criminal
Should you trust AI for legal advice or to conduct legal research? Are “law bots” going to replace attorneys in the courtrooms of the future? It’s not likely, and here’s why. Below, we will take a look at: The potential benefits of AI in the legal profession, Why...
by rhiltonlaw | Nov 30, 2021 | Court System
“I’m not getting the public defender, I want a real lawyer.” Often times I heard this phrase or something similar come from defendants when I asked as a prosecutor in South Carolina, “do you want to apply for the public defender?” Believe it or not, public defenders...
by rhiltonlaw | Nov 30, 2021 | Court System, Criminal, Penalties, Sentencing
What are the factors that go into a prosecutors recommendation? As a prosecutor of many years, I made thousands of sentence recommendations. Here’s what goes into it. Let’s go through an example. Defendant is charged with Burglary in the 1st degree for breaking into...
by rhiltonlaw | Nov 30, 2021 | Court Process, Court System, Criminal
In any criminal case in South Carolina, a defendant is entitled to a preliminary hearing if the charge is “not triable by a magistrate.” What this means is that for any criminal offense in General Sessions Court, the defendant may request a preliminary...
